'''Maria la Gorda''' is in [[Cuba]]. It is mostly synonymous with the diving camp that is situated there. The entire settlement consists of a hotel, diving centre, small shop, sandy beach and 2 restaurants. However, even if you are not a diver, it is a nice place to spend a night.

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'''Maria la Gorda''' is in [[Pinar del Rio (province)|Pinar del Rio province]] in western [[Cuba]]. It is mostly synonymous with the diving camp that is situated there. The entire settlement consists of a hotel, diving centre, small shop, sandy beach and 2 restaurants. However, even if you are not a diver, it is a nice place to spend a night.

==Get in==

==Get in==

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There is no public buses to this part of Cuba.

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There are no public buses to this part of Cuba. You can however book transfers easily through tour agencies.

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You can however book transfers easily through tour agencies.

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From Vinales for example a transfer bus leaves daily at 8:00am and returns at 5:00pm - journey time 3hrs cost 15CUC per person. Bear in mind that Maria la Gorda is a long way from anywhere.

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From Vinales for example a transfer bus leaves daily at 8:00am and returns at 5:00pm - Journey time 3hrs cost 15CUC per person

==Get around==

==Get around==

==See==

==See==

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If you walk a few kilometers away from the camp, towards top of the peninsula, you see interesting landscape -- mangroove swamp and the sea are divided by wall of old shells/corals. Some big (50 cm) empty shells there.

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If you walk a few kilometers away from the camp, towards the top of the peninsula, you see interesting landscape -- mangrove swamp and the sea are divided by wall of old shells/corals. Some big (50 cm) empty shells there.

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This entire peninsula was recently run over by ''Hurricane Ivan'' and it will probably take some time to restore its natural beauty.

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This entire peninsula was recently run over by Hurricane Ivan (and subsequently Hurricane Wilma) and it will probably take some time to restore its natural beauty.

==Do==

==Do==

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Diving is the only real activity on offer. A range of options are available, and snorkelliung trips go out with every dive.

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Diving is the main activity on offer. A range of options are available, and snorkeling trips go out with every dive (though on one trip there was little to be seen by snorkelers that couldn't be seen by snorkeling from the jetty). There is also a volleyball pitch.

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There is also a vollyball pitch.

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The hotel also advertises that it runs hiking excursions, and other entertainment, but travelers report little evidence of any of that.

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The hotel also advertises that it runs hiking excursions, and other entertainment, but I saw little evidence of any of that.

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If you have your own transport it is possible to drive (with a paid guide) to the western end of mainland Cuba. This Wikitraveller was rather disappointed in this trip: it was a long dusty drive with little to see - there's a lighthouse and marina at the end, but we weren't taken round the former and were the only visitors to the latter (they provided sandwiches and beers, not included in the price). You may see some Iguanas from the road, or within the resort. There is a deep swimming hole with an underground connection to the sea (and containing some tropical fish) at the Ecological station, where the road meets the sea on the way in. Other trips (including hikes) are also available from the station. If you're interested in Cuban birdlife there are a few bits and pieces to be seen. Bee Hummingbirds (the smallest bird in the world) are said to be present on the peninsula and at Playa Larga. Royal Terns loaf on the piles near the resort entrance and there are some Yellow-headed Warblers and Black-throated Green Warblers around a dump not far from the resort - follow a track into the scrubby woodland next to a roadside pool on the inland side of the road half a mile or so from the resort entrance. In spring large black, yellow and red land crabs swarm in their hundreds across the roads (especially after rain) and the inevitable casualties attract scavenging flocks of Turkey Vultures. Quite a sight.

==Eat==

==Eat==

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The food at the hotel is pretty foul. The dinner buffet is no good and at 15CUC per person is very bad value. There is also a small a la carte restaurant which is marginally better. When booking the hotel dont take the dinner option - you can decide when you get there if you want to risk the buffet!

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The dinner buffet is no good and at 15CUC per person is very bad value. There is also a small a la carte restaurant which is marginally better. When booking the hotel don't take the dinner option - you can decide when you get there if you want to risk the buffet! (In March 2006 the food was found to be OK, though the restaurant was better than the buffet. Both were no better or worse than most of the meals in various parts of Cuba.) (In February 2010 buffet food was very good - not luxury, of course, but much much much better compared to anything we had in Cuba at all)

==Drink==

==Drink==

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A decent bar - but taking a bottle of rum with you advisable, and they dont mind

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A decent bar - but taking a bottle of rum with you advisable, and they don't mind.

==Sleep==

==Sleep==

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Hotel Maria la Gorda, CUC 66 for a room with 2 beds (hot water, TV, rich breakfast). This is the only hotel in entire area down from Guane.

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*'''Hotel Maria la Gorda''', CUC 66 for a room with 2 beds (hot water, TV, rich breakfast). This is the only hotel in entire area down from Guane. They have a complex of wooden cabins connected by walkways which were comfortable and pleasant.

==Stay safe==

==Stay safe==

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{{isIn|Cuba}}

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{{isPartOf|Pinar_del_Rio_(province)}}

Revision as of 14:52, 6 November 2010

Maria la Gorda is in Pinar del Rio province in western Cuba. It is mostly synonymous with the diving camp that is situated there. The entire settlement consists of a hotel, diving centre, small shop, sandy beach and 2 restaurants. However, even if you are not a diver, it is a nice place to spend a night.

Contents

Get in

There are no public buses to this part of Cuba. You can however book transfers easily through tour agencies.

From Vinales for example a transfer bus leaves daily at 8:00am and returns at 5:00pm - journey time 3hrs cost 15CUC per person. Bear in mind that Maria la Gorda is a long way from anywhere.

Get around

See

If you walk a few kilometers away from the camp, towards the top of the peninsula, you see interesting landscape -- mangrove swamp and the sea are divided by wall of old shells/corals. Some big (50 cm) empty shells there.

This entire peninsula was recently run over by Hurricane Ivan (and subsequently Hurricane Wilma) and it will probably take some time to restore its natural beauty.

Do

Diving is the main activity on offer. A range of options are available, and snorkeling trips go out with every dive (though on one trip there was little to be seen by snorkelers that couldn't be seen by snorkeling from the jetty). There is also a volleyball pitch.

The hotel also advertises that it runs hiking excursions, and other entertainment, but travelers report little evidence of any of that.

If you have your own transport it is possible to drive (with a paid guide) to the western end of mainland Cuba. This Wikitraveller was rather disappointed in this trip: it was a long dusty drive with little to see - there's a lighthouse and marina at the end, but we weren't taken round the former and were the only visitors to the latter (they provided sandwiches and beers, not included in the price). You may see some Iguanas from the road, or within the resort. There is a deep swimming hole with an underground connection to the sea (and containing some tropical fish) at the Ecological station, where the road meets the sea on the way in. Other trips (including hikes) are also available from the station. If you're interested in Cuban birdlife there are a few bits and pieces to be seen. Bee Hummingbirds (the smallest bird in the world) are said to be present on the peninsula and at Playa Larga. Royal Terns loaf on the piles near the resort entrance and there are some Yellow-headed Warblers and Black-throated Green Warblers around a dump not far from the resort - follow a track into the scrubby woodland next to a roadside pool on the inland side of the road half a mile or so from the resort entrance. In spring large black, yellow and red land crabs swarm in their hundreds across the roads (especially after rain) and the inevitable casualties attract scavenging flocks of Turkey Vultures. Quite a sight.

Eat

The dinner buffet is no good and at 15CUC per person is very bad value. There is also a small a la carte restaurant which is marginally better. When booking the hotel don't take the dinner option - you can decide when you get there if you want to risk the buffet! (In March 2006 the food was found to be OK, though the restaurant was better than the buffet. Both were no better or worse than most of the meals in various parts of Cuba.) (In February 2010 buffet food was very good - not luxury, of course, but much much much better compared to anything we had in Cuba at all)

Drink

A decent bar - but taking a bottle of rum with you advisable, and they don't mind.

Sleep

Hotel Maria la Gorda, CUC 66 for a room with 2 beds (hot water, TV, rich breakfast). This is the only hotel in entire area down from Guane. They have a complex of wooden cabins connected by walkways which were comfortable and pleasant.